New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio testifies during a budget hearing on Monday in Albany, N.Y. / Mike Groll, AP

by Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY

by Melanie Eversley, USA TODAY

The civil rights community applauded a move by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to settle the legal battle over controversial stop-and-frisk policies and reform the practice that some said unfairly targeted minorities.

Under the agreement with plaintiffs, a court-appointed monitor will oversee the police department's reform of stop-and-frisk for three years. The city also will work with "community stakeholders" to make sure people who have been impacted by stop-and-frisk help shape reform.

"I can't wait to get started," Vincent Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, told the Associated Press.

The center has represented four plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the city in 2008. The plaintiffs said they were unfairly targeted because of their race.

The city is asking the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to return the case to district court.

Supporters of stop-and-frisk, which include former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have said that It acts as an effective crime deterrent. But the civil rights community has said that is is rare when such stops result in a weapon being found.

"(The) announced settlement represents one of the most critical steps taken by a governmental entity to end racial discrimination in policing in U.S. history," said Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "We applaud Mayor de Blasio for this bold action to prevent the unnecessary and stigmatizing criminalization of hundreds of thousands of innocent people of color."

"This agreement is an important step in moving us closer to beginning the process ordered by the court last August, and it is refreshing that this new administration is committing to that process moving forward," said Joo-Hyun Kang, spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform, in a statement.

New Yorkers impacted by stop-and-frisk should have "significant and formalized roles" to creating reforms and evaluating compliance, Kang said.

"We look forward to ensure that once the remedial process begins, we are able to create enduring changes that will help achieve true safety with dignity for all New Yorkers," Kang said.

Communities United for Police Reform is a campaign to end discriminatory police practices.

Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network said he supported the move and said stop-and-frisk essentially amounts to racial profiling.

"We must address the issue of crime prevention in New York and in cities around the nation, but profiling, criminalizing and creating further distrust between police and the community is by no means the answer and we salute the City of New York for realizing this," Sharpton said.

De Blasio announced the agreement in the years-long legal battle while meeting with reporters on Thursday in Brooklyn.

"This is a defining moment in our history â?? it's a defining moment for millions of our families, especially those with young men of color," de Blasio said. "This will be one city where everyone's rights are respected, and where police and community stand together to confront violence."